Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be! The entertainment industry is one of trial and error. For any actor, whether you are looking to get started in the industry or you are a seasoned professional, there are many aspects that can contribute to the loss of a role. Of course, making a movie is a complicated process. There are producers, writers, and directors that are all putting in their two-sense of what will be best to bring a project to life on the big screen. From budgets to locations and especially casting, everyone involved always has something to say. In terms of casting, actors and the cast and crew all contribute to making sure that the environment remains productive and professional.

Once a movie gets made, it is hard for the public to view anyone else playing the iconic roles. However, it is pretty common that actors get fired and switched out when the movie’s direction changes or when situations get contentious or problematic. Making movies is full of “what could have been.” Here are some actors that were fired from their movie roles that you might not have known about.

Related: These Actors Lost Iconic Movie Roles Because of Bad Auditions

11 Christian Bale — American Psycho

This one was not a complete disaster! Although Christian Bale brought his iconic role in American Psycho to life, did you know that Bale was in fact once fired from playing Patrick Bateman? Casting for a film like American Psycho was definitely a process. Much like any film with some big-name actors attached to it with the hopes of becoming an instant classic, whom you cast as your lead is incredibly important. Bale was initially fired from the role when the first choice, Leonardo DiCaprio, became available to take on the role. However, that also did not last long, and when DiCaprio was out, Bale was back in.

10 Annette Bening — Batman Returns

It's definitely hard for any of us to picture the likes of someone else's face on the characters we all know in love. Especially after Michelle Pfeiffer's outstanding portrayal of Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns, it might come as a shock that she actually had to step into the role last minute and Annette Bening was originally cast but had to step away from the project. Bening is a highly acclaimed actress with roles in films such as The American President and American Beauty. When she became pregnant before production began, Pfeiffer ended up putting on the iconic black latex catsuit instead.

9 Kevin Spacey — All the Money in the World

Things can get ugly in Hollywood. The 2017 crime drama film All the Money in the World definitely includes some pretty recognizable names from Christopher Plummer and Michelle Williams to Mark Wahlberg and Andrew Buchan. Kevin Spacey, who originally played Jean Paul Getty in the film, was replaced last minute. Per Vox, Spacey was accused of sexual assault and the controversy eventually lost him the role, even after he had already finished filming the movie. Director Ridley Scott decided to crack down, erasing all traces of Spacey in the movie in order to keep the anticipated release during the holidays.

8 James Remar — Aliens

Especially in the entertainment world, industry professionals are not always perfect. During the filming of the classic sci-fi horror movie Aliens, actor James Remar was fired only after a few weeks of filming the movie. The 1986 movie follows marines when they find Lt. Ripley's lost space shuttle after 57 years of just floating out in space, only to find one survivor. Remar played the character Dwayne Hicks, but was ultimately let go after he was caught in the possession of drugs.

7 Samantha Morton — Her

Her was a 2013 romance sci-fi film that followed our main character Theordore, played by Joker actor Joaquin Phoenix, as he falls deeply in love with an artificial intelligence entity that has no physical form. The female voice, Samantha, played by Scarlett Johansson, matches Theodore's advances, but her emotions are not quite as grounded in the same reality as his. The Walking Dead actress Samantha Morton was originally cast to be the voice of the AI love interest, but was dropped in post-production when directors and producers decide to take the movie in a different direction.

6 Natalie Portman — Romeo + Juliet

Natalie Portman has been a massive name in the entertainment industry from her role as Jane Foster in the Marvel franchise to her Academy Award-winning performance in the 2010 thriller Black Swan. Even at a young age, Portman was involved in some of the biggest projects on film. She was cast to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. However, DiCaprio was 8 years her senior, being 21 years old at the time and Portman was only 13. This uncomfortable age gap was enough to remove her from the project.

Related: Natalie Portman's Best Action Movies, Ranked

5 Judy Garland — The Valley of the Dolls

Judy Garland is one of the most recognizable and iconic names in the history of entertainment especially for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. However, even the best of the best do not have picture-perfect careers. Her involvement in the 1967 film The Valley of the Dolls, based on 1966 book by Jacqueline Susann, is the stuff of Hollywood legend. Garland went as far in the process as trying on costumes for test screens, only to get fired for inappropriate behavior and drinking alcohol.

4 Terrence Howard — Iron Man 2

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has defined the careers of so many actors. It took Marvel a few tries to get things right, from the look of some of their heroes to their casting choices. We all know James Rhodes (Rhodey/War Machine) is now played by Don Cheadle. However, when Iron Man kicked off phase 1 of the MCU, Rhodey was played by Terrence Howard. However, after appearing in the first Iron Man movie, according to Looper, Howard was removed from the MCU due to some contentious salary conflicts.

3 Megan Fox — Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The Transformers movies were a great set of action flicks that followed Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela (Megan Fox) as they get involved with the conflicts of some giant alien robots that transform into vehicles. Well, Fox's role was not one to miss, and she appeared in three movies in the franchise before getting fired. What could she have done? Well, she called and compared director Michael Bay to Hitler, and Steven Spielberg requested to have her terminated from the franchise.

2 Edward Norton — The Avengers

The MCU heroes that we all know and love have been meticulously crafted and played by some of the best actors in Hollywood. Mark Ruffalo's Hulk continues to be a vital and beloved part of not just the Avengers, but the entire Marvel Universe as a whole. However, before Ruffalo took on the role, Edward Norton starred as Bruce Banner in 2008 in The Incredible Hulk. Norton was let go and re-casted before the first Avengers movie because they thought Norton did not have the right creative portrayal of the hero they needed.

1 Ryan Gosling — The Lovely Bones

For some very dedicated actors, changing your physique, growing out your hair, and losing or gaining weight for a role are admired by not only those involved in making the movie but by members of the audience as well. For example, Joaquin Phoenix's weight loss for Joker changed the game. However, not every actor's act of dedication to a role works out the way it was intended. Ryan Gosling acquired the role of Jack Salmon in 2009's The Lovely Bones. However, his 60-pound weight gain specifically for the role was not what the director had had in mind, and he was swiftly replaced with Mark Wahlberg.